Fruit-picker



(No Model.)

M. J. DRYSDALB 85H. RABURN. FRUIT `PIJKEBH No. 606,524. Patented June 28, 1898.

Nrfrnn *rares MOSES J. DRYSDALE AND HINER RABURN, OF BARDVELL, KENTUCKY.

` FRUIT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Applicant fnea Anglia 12, 1897 T @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, MOSES J. DRYSDALE and HINER RABURN, citizens of the United States, residing at Bardwell, in the county of Carlisle and State of Kentucky,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Pickers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fruit gatherers or pickers; and it consists of the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object'of the invention is to simplify devices of this character vand to render them v more positive in their operation as well as to provide means for preventing bruising of the fruit when falling into the containing-receptacle as itis picked, the mechanism being strong and durable, easily and readily operated, and the picker as an entirety comparatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture. In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a fruit-picker embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central section of the device.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views, the numeral l designates a pole or staff for supporting the picker, which is adapted to be made of jointed or folded sections, to which additional parts may be added for extending the same or such parts disconnected when gathering the fruit at a low elevation. Rigidly secured to the upper part of the said pole or staff is a horizontally-positioned ring or band 2 having a series of apertures 3 formed therein. A containing-receptacle 4, composed, preferably, of cloth or analogous material, is secured to the said ring or band 2, and is supported thereby and also held in proper shape at its upper portion above the said ring or band. Adjacent to the point of securement of the said ring or band to the pole or staff l obliquely-arranged arms 5 are movably attached and project beyond one side of the said pole or staff and have aty tached thereto a clip G, which extends over Patent No. 606,524, dated June 28, 1898.

. Serial No. 648,030. (No model.)

the top of the same. The arms 5 are continued normally in an oblique line and formed into a ring 7, to which the upper end of the containing-receptacle 4 is attached. On the mounted and bears against the inner side of curved ring, forming a part4 thereof, outwardly at an oblique angle from the said pole or staff Attached to the lower rear ends of the 'arm 5 is a pull cord, wire, or analogous device 9, which moves downwardlyalong the pole or staff to within reaching distance of the operator. v To the upper end of the pole or stad above the ring or band 2 a closingdisk l1 is rigidly secured and positioned vertically and conforms ndimension tothe mouth of the containing-receptacle, which is provided by the ring 7 of the arms 5.

Vithin the receiving-receptacle and posibands 12, constructed, preferably, of elastic material, though springs or analogous devices may be substituted, and this yielding connection normally elevates the bottom of the retaining-receptacle and brings it nearer the mouth or the ring 7. This arrangement of parts is instituted for the purpose of breaking the fall of the fruit and preventing the latterfrom dropping too far, and thereby avoiding the formation of bruises or mashing or mutilating the same in any manner.

The closing-disk 1,1 always remains in one position, and the arms 5 are normally held at such an angle by the spring-arm 8 as to hold the mouth of the containing-receptacle open.

Vhen the device is employed for gathering fruit, it is placed under the fruit being gathered, the latter entering the mouth or within the ring 7, and the pull wire, cord, or analogous device 9 is drawn downwardly, thereby exerting a tension on the lower ends of the arms 5 and elevating the said ring 7 to the disk l1. By this operation the'fruit is severed and drops into the receptacle il, and as the latter becomes lilled by successive similar operations the bottom thereof is distended against the resistance of the elastic connections heretofore set forth and a continuous When the device is emptied of its contents,

the pole or staff l is inverted and the fruit head of thepole or staff l a spring-arm 8 is the clip 6 to normally throw the arms and theY tioned at opposite sides thereof are yielding A IOO cushioning of the fruit is at alltimes sustained. y

permitted to run out of the retaining-receptacle into a basket, barrel, or other device.

It Will be seen from the foregoing that a very convenient form of fruit-gatherer is provided, which is adapted to be used in connection With the ripest fruits Without injury vto the latter, and it is obviously apparent that many minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts might be made and substituted for those shown and described Without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,what

oblique angle to the said staff, a vertical disk 1 mounted upon the staff adjacent to the said ring, a containing-receptacle attached to the ring lof the arms, a supporting-band eXtending horizontally from the pole or staff, and an operating device attached to the arms and arranged to bring the continuous ring thereof against the vertical disk, substantially as described.

2. A fruit-gatherer having a containing-receptacle provided with resilient connections lique angle to the pole or staff, a closing-disk stationarily mounted on the staff and positioned ina vertical plane, a containing-receptacle attached to the band or ring of the arms, a supportin g ring or band extending horizontally from the pole or staff and-having openings therein to which the said containing-receptacle is attached, elastic connections in the containing-receptacle, and means for operating the arms to bring the band or ring thereof against the closing-disk, substantially as described.

. In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two .subscribing witnesses.

Mosns J. nnYsDALE. HINER RABURN.

YVitnesses:

D. K. LAYTON, E. J. LAvToN. 

